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This week the Review Group is covering I, Zombie #1 and remembering our friend Old Man.

This week is a little different. I'm going to step aside and let Starlord do the talking:

We here at the Outhouse, as well as our review group, lost a member and to some of us... a friend last week. Around these parts he went by Old Man, but at other sites he was known as Alan Coil. For me, he was simply Lew - my friend. He was a self proclaimed crotchety old man, full of piss and vinegar with a strong opinion on almost anything. Knowing him personally I can tell you that he was and wasn't all those things. Oh he did have strong opinions and wasn't afraid to explain them, and to a casual acquaintance he could be misconstrued as a crotchety old man, but if you knew him - he was anything but.

Having been given the privilege of spending many Wednesday afternoons sitting him with at our comic shop I learned two very important things about Old Man. First, he really did not like Brian Michael Bendis at all. Two, he really didn't care what other people liked or disliked; except it gave him wonderful ammunition to tease the hell out of you.

The last time I got to see Lew was the week after the review group had reviewed the final issue of Blackest Night. In his review he gave the issue a ten and then proclaimed it to be a greater story than "The Watchmen". There were quite a few comments over that one, and Old Man defended his statement to the end. Well, that Wednesday I walked into the back room that was reserved for us comic geeks who gather for the afternoon's celebration of new comics and I will never forget the look he gave me when I entered the room. His eyes had that mischievous twinkle in them and we didn't have to say a word to each other; we both just busted out laughing at the same time. When we had finally caught our breath and calmed down a bit while our other friends stared at us like we had lost our mind, Lew said. "I hope Grant Morrison didn't read that." Another round of laughter that lasted even longer followed.

Other than occasional emails, that was the last time I really got to spend time with Lew. It was also the perfect way to describe exactly the kind of person Old Man was. A jokster with a heart of a gold that he tried desperately to hide, but never could.

This week Mr_Batman had the pick of the week and he chose "I Zombie" #1 from Vertigo. The Outhouse Review Group would like to dedicate this week's article to our Old Man who always gave us some of the most interesting, funny, and entertaining reviews. You will always be missed never forgotten and Blackest Night will always be greater literature than "The Watchmen"... Grant Morrison be damned. We'll see you on the other side my friend.

I, Zombie #1

Written by CHRIS ROBERSONArt and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED

Gwen Dylan is a gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery...and a zombie detective. Once a month, she has to eat a human brain - both to keep from going all "Night of the Living Dead," and to keep her own memories intact. As a result, Gwen's mind is crowded with the dead person's thoughts. And lately, she feels compelled to fulfill their final requests. Torn between a mysterious mummy and a dashing young monster-hunter, Gwen is set for adventures beyond imagination! A were-terrier, a swinging '60s ghost and a pack of paintball blasting vampires complete the cast of I, ZOMBIE.

Written by World Fantasy Award finalist Chris Roberson (CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE) with art by Eisner Award-winning superstar artist Michael Allred (X-Statix, Madman), I, ZOMBIE is a monster of a tale with razor-sharp prose and powerful pop artistry.

Don't miss this special debut issue launching Vertigo's next monster hit, priced at just $1.00!

A promising debut with fantastic art. Really what more could you want from a number one?

What holds this book back from being perfect is that it maybe has too many influences, even if it does wear them on its sleeves. There are shades of Scooby-Doo, Buffy, Pushing Daisies, and maybe even a little nod to Chew.

However, it is an engaging read with a clever take on zombies. In a field often way too broad to make a mark, this one does a fine job of making itself a player.

Gwen Dylan is a zombie. She is also a grave digger – this is, of course, a front for her to get fresh “meat” without all the unpleasantness of a George Romero film. She is intelligent – which is displayed by her ability to narrate her own story. This unlikely attribute for a zombie is explained through a monthly need for braaaainnnnnnzzzzz or she turns into a mindless roamer, if you will.
She has friends - an apparent ghost named Ellie (her best friend), a were-terrier named Scott (or “Spot) who wants to make out with her, and Dixie the maybe former mob hit man who runs a local diner.

In this single issue, we get expert exposition and character development. We also get at least two mysteries to take the story forward – one being some likely Vampire activity at the local Paint Ball attraction and the other brings up the failed ABC sitcom.

This is a dense comic. There is more here for a single dollar than most comics that cost $4.99 and declare themselves giant sized or provide second features.

To top it all off is Allred in full on pop art mode. Ellie is a mod styled girl who would be at home in a Who musical or a Dave Gibbons’ Graphic Novel. The gravediggers look working class sheik in their bowling shirts. Even attention is paid to making the box of the doll look hipsterrific.

Roberson is a relative newcomer to me, but with this and Cinderella – I may have a new favorite writer to pursue.